Folding table



C. J. SCHMITT FOLDING TABLE Feb. 2, 1926.

Filed March 18. 1925 ,I" ,1.

Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES CHARLES J'. SCHMITT, OF ALGOMA, WISCONSIN.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application filed March 18, 1925. Serial No. 16,488.

T 0 {1Z5 whom may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. SCHMITT, a citizenvof the United States, residing at Algoma, in the county of Kewaunee and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding tables, and has for its object to provide, in manner as hereinafter set forth, a table of such class with new and novel means fori maintaining the legs thereof in vertical position when extended and for locking the legs in parallelism with respect to the inner face of .the table top when the legs are folded.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a folding table, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact when folded, conveniently set up and folded when desired, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the. several views Figure l'is a bottom plan of a folding table, in accordance with this invention,

with the legs at one end of the table extended and the legs at the other end folded.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of. the table with the legs thereof extended. Figure 3 is a section on line 8-3, Figure 1; Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, in plan, of a modified form of a combined brace 211K coupling element.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of the form shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 denotes the top of the table, which preferably is of rectangular contour. Secured to the inner face of the top 1 is a pair of transversely extending cleats or brace members 2, 8, which are arranged at a substantial distance from, but in proximity to the ends of the top '1. Each of the said cleats is of a length less than the width and has its ends positioned inwardly with respect to the side edges of the topl.

Two pair of supporting legs are provided for supporting the top 1. The legs of one pair are indicated at 4 and those of the other at The pairs of legs 4, 5, are connected together at their upper ends by the combined brace and coupling bars 6, 7, respectively and which are flush with the upper end edges of the legs. The pairs of legs 4, 5, are connected'to the cleats 2, 3 by the pairs of hinges 8, 9, respectively. iVhen the pairs of legs at, 5 are extended they abut against the outer sides of the cleats and the inner face of the top 1 and further are flushwith the end edges of the latter.

Arranged between and secured to the pairs of legs 4., 5 are the brace rods 10, 11 respectively and upon each of said rods is pivotally mounted a combined brace and coupling element and which are referred to generally by the reference characters 12, 13 and extend in opposite directions with respect'to each other.

Each of said elements consists of a tubular bar 145 of the desired length having peripheral threads 15 at one end and peripheral threads 16 at the other end thereof. Threadedly engaging with the threads 15 is a T-coupling 17 through which extends a brace rod 10 or 11, and upon the latter the element pivots.

Threadedly engaging with the threads 16 is a collar 18 provided with a pair of opposed rearwardly extending apcrtured arms 19.

Secured to the inner face of the top 1, at the longitudinal center thereof, is a pair of lengthwise aligning bars 20, 21 abutting at their opposed ends and having their outer ends spaced from the cleats 2, 3. The lower face of each of the bars 20, 21 is provided throughout with a dove-tail groove 22. Mounted in each of the grooves 22 is an inverted channel-shaped metallic casing 23 of the same length and contour as the length and shape of the groove, and which provides a combined guide and connecting means for a slidable rectangular combined guide and coupling block. The blocks are indicated at 24, 25, and each associates with the element 12 and the latter with the element 13. The sides of each block are bevelled to conform to the shape of the sides of the casing: 2?), in which the hlock mounted.

The top otf each of the casings 2th a well as each of the bars 2t), it. near the inner end thereof. is termed with an opening, as indicated at 96, ill". respectively. The openings 26 register with the openii'igs 21'. The purpose ol the registering openings will he presentl referred to.

The blocks 2t, :35, hetween their trans "verse center and outer ends, have depending therefrom eye bolts 25?. 25) respectively. To the eye bolt 2%. is pirotall connected. as at 30. the arnisi of the element 15.. and the arms 19 ot the element l3 are piv- ()iilll) connected to the eye holt 2t, as at St.

Carried hr the hlochs at. at the inner end thereof a spring controlled latching device 32, which operates through opening in the block and trictionall w engages with the top of a cas no 2:) to maintain a pair oi legs in p 'tion when (32* tended. The latching; (ltWlt'O further adapted to engage in registering; openings it 2?, for locking a pair (d s in foldnl position, that is parallel with ti inner face ol' the top 1.

In the modification shown in :liigures aland 5, the rods 10. ll. and the T'coupling's 17 are dispensed with. The combined hrace and coupling element consists oil a tubular bar 53 oi. the desired length pl'OYitlQtl at each end with periphc *al threads. Threadedly engaging with the inner end of the bar 33 is a collar 8st provided with a pair of opposed rearwardly extending apertnred arms 35 adapted to be pivot-ally connected to an eye holt carried by a block 2% or 25. "llhreadedly engaging with the outer end of the bar 3'2 isa collar 3t; torn'ied with a pair o't opposed outwardly extend: ing apcrtni'ed arias ll? which are PlVUiXzill) connected as at did. to an are holt 3t), secared to a conihincd lu'acc and ciiupling hai (3 or i. tltherwise than that as stated, the construction of the table will he the sunnas retfcrrcd to ii connection with l igg'urcs 1, :3 and 3.

When a pair of legs is extended, the latch inn device 32 'l'rictionally engaging with the top of a casing 23 will maintain the lens in such position. llhen it is desired to :lold the legs. the latching device 's pulled from einrageinent with the asing 221 and the slidahle hlocl: shi'l'tcd inwardly which an ice a combined brace and coupling element therewith, swinging the legs ini 'ardl and as the block is shifted towards the inner n is as illustrated and described, yet

.i' ti on understood that changes in the details of (.Ol'iShl t ion ran he had which l ll within the s p (it the llU 'Olll'lUil as t l tal le comprising a top, two en's, means for coupling; each r (it less to ether a pair of cleats secared to the in ilace oi said top, means tor hingingg the legs or each, pair at a point removed from their upper ends to the lower face oil a cleat, a pair oi. slidahle eppositel niorahlc conihined guide and coup ing hloclts, means arrangnd at; the longit dinal center of the inner tace ol said top t 1' slidahl r coiincct-iiu; said blocks there to, oppositely ctdeniliin conihined ln'ace and coupling elements pirotallv connected to said legs. nicans depending tron: said blocks tor pirotally connecting: said elements there thin and latching; devices :arried in, said hloclts and enacting with said first 1nen tion=d connecting means for n'iaintaining the extended and loched when 'ti'ildcd.

A folding table comprising; a top w a spaced pair of cleats secured to the inner face 0" said top points adjacent the ends thereof, two pairs of end legs, each pair arranged outwardly w't-h respect to a cleat, means for hin 'ing the legs o'l? each pair in pri'ixiinity to thQ upper ends to a cleat. a pair at. slidahle. oppositely iilllYillilm apertured. coinhined tgnidand coupling liloelc nnrans secured to the inner lace ol' the top. liietween the cleat ior :ilidahly i'()IlilttfllIl 1 the hloclis to the top and provided with openings adapted to renimtci; with the apen tures in the hhn-lts. oppositely extending: conihined hram and coupling; elements pirotally connected to said lop-s. ineainz calending' from said hloclcs .l o' pirotallr connect ii'ig said elements thercwitln and latching devices carried h said hloclts and seleetirel coat-thug with said openings and apertures for maintaining; the lens extended and locked when folded.

In testimony whcreo'h .ll allirc my signature hereto.

Clldlllil lfi J. tfit tlh'll'l ll. 

